Scotland win in Italy for first time

In a match that was evenly-matched throughout, those two tries in the space of five minutes proved the difference for Bryan Easson’s side, who move up to third in the table.

Alyssa D’Inca had continued her fine try-scoring form to put Italy in front, only for Lana Skeldon to respond immediately in a tight first half.

And Orr and Rollie were able to open up a gap, that meant that Beatrice Rigoni’s late penalty was only enough for a losing bonus point for Le Azzurre, who missed a last chance to snatch a draw with a knock-on from an attacking lineout.

Fresh from back-to-back home defeats to France and England, the Scots were clearly eager to make amends.

Taking advantage of a good scrum and neat work at the breakdown, they dominated possession and territory in the early stages.

Their lineout was not quite clicking though, with a couple of good opportunities going begging as Italy’s defence held strong.

Giovanni Raineri’s team struggled with their handling early, one Rigoni pass floating into touch when she looked to have opened up space for Aura Muzzo, while the impressive Sara Tounesi was a little too ambitious with another offload.

But gradually they started to find their rhythm, with their offloading game causing Scotland a lot of problems.

Giordana Duca found Francesca Sgorbini on one such pass to set up an attack which came to nothing. A couple of minutes later, a squint lineout proved costly with Italy five metres out.

They finally hit the front just after the half-hour with a beautiful score. Off the top of a lineout 40 metres out, the ball was spread to Ilaria Arrighetti. She burst through one tackle before offloading to D’Inca.

Moved to the centre for this one, she proved no less elusive, sprinting clear before stepping Rhona Lloyd for the opening try. Rigoni converted to make it 7-0.

From the restart, Italy failed to clear their lines, instead conceding a penalty that allowed Scotland to kick into the 22. This time, Skeldon found her jumper and the maul marched forward, allowing the hooker to dot down. Helen Nelson converted from the left to level the scores.

Italy had another chance late in the half but the teams went in level, with Scotland then coming out of the blocks quicker in the second half.

Still, there was nothing in it, one Duca chargedown almost giving Italy more points, only for Rollie to get back.

Then, with the game very much up for grabs, a good kick into space by Lisa Thomson forced Muzzo to race back. While she got to the ball, Lloyd, on the occasion of her 50th cap, was there to put pressure on at the breakdown. Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi cleared out the winger but the ball squirted loose, where Orr was on hand to pick up and score.

Even with Nelson’s missed conversion, Scotland led for the first time with 15 minutes remaining. The momentum had swung their way and after a long passage in the Italian 22, Rollie stretched the advantage, stepping inside Rigoni to score.

Suddenly, Italy trailed by 10 with not much time left, but when they got a penalty 25 metres out in front, Rigoni cut the deficit to seven.

That left them with the chance to snatch a draw, and their cause was helped when Rollie was sent to the sin-bin for a dangerous clearout in the final minute.

Rigoni kicked into the 22, setting up a lineout to grab the draw. But the throw was not clean, the ball knocked on and Scotland celebrated.

They now sit third in the table before a trip to Ireland in Round 5, while Italy will head to Wales looking to win a second game in the campaign.